Cops to Justin Bieber: 'If you have nothing to hide, why not talk?'

By By Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton

May 29, 2013 | 12:35 PM

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department investigators want Justin Bieber to set the record straight and talk to them directly about allegations by former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson and other witnesses that the pop star drove recklessly through his Calabasas neighborhood.

Authorities are also seeking surveillance video and interviews with additional witnesses who may have seen Bieber driving at freeway speeds through the gated community during the Memorial Day weekend.

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Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said it's time for him to tell his side of the story to investigators -- rather than deny the allegations through is representatives.

"Mr. Bieber is making statements through others that he was not driving," Whitmore said. "If he wants to set the record straight, contact us for a sit-down, thorough interview. He has to ask himself this question, 'If you have nothing to hide, why not talk to us?'"

Bieber refused to talk with sheriff's deputies who were called to the Bieber's house, Whitmore said.

At least two witnesses placed Bieber in the driver's seat of the white Ferrari, authorities said.

One of the witnesses is Johnson, a former USC and NFL star. He tried to confront Bieber after he saw the Ferrari tear past his home, where his 3-year-old daughter was playing in the driveway, Whitmore said.

When Johnson arrived at Bieber's home, he reached out his arm to prevent the garage door from closing and confronted Bieber, who was in the driver's seat, according to police reports.

"He was concerned about his daughter and he wanted to talk to Mr. Bieber about that," Whitmore said. "Mr. Bieber hurried into the home without talking to anybody."

A source told The Times that as Bieber went inside, someone threatened to call authorities on Johnson, to which Johnson agreed, "Call the cops."

A second witness who was taking his trash out also saw Bieber in the driver's seat, Whitmore said.

Bieber has already drawn the ire of authorities and his neighbors.

Prosecutors are weighing whether to charge Bieber for battery for allegedly spitting on a neighbor in March after the neighbor complained about the singer and his entourage speeding through the neighborhood.

In November, Bieber was cited by police in West Hollywood for making an unsafe turn.

NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson -- also a Calabasas resident -- took to Twitter on Tuesday to chastise Bieber.

"Hey @justinbieber I use to have a white Ferrari too, but I knew the speed limit in neighborhoods where kids played," Dickerson tweeted.

"Just to be clear, I think @justinbieber is a talented young man. But as a parent of young kids the reckless driving concerns me."